Professor Binaisa Admits Abrogating Constitution
For the first time since leaving power, former President Godfrey Binaisa has admitted responsibility for abrogating the 1962 constitution in 1966.
By Anne Mugisa
For the first time since leaving power, former President Godfrey Binaisa has admitted responsibility for abrogating the 1962 constitution in 1966.
Prof. Binaisa, who was the then Attorney General, said he had to avert the brewing blood shed and a military take over by Idd Amin, the then feared Army Chief-of-Staff.
He said he wrote the 1966 pigeon hole constitution with Kamba Mugerwa and Koffi Cran, both Ghanaians.
“Faced with the 1966 events, I had to keep the citizens and foreigners from harm,†Binaisa said.
“I offered a solution. I told Dr. Obote that it was the only thing to do to save the country from military take over. I kicked out all the Ugandans from the office and let the Europeans handle it so as not to leak it. That constitution saved this country. I think I did a good job,†Binaisa added.
Binaisa was reacting to Justice George Kanyaihamba’s assertions in his book “Constitutional and Political History of Uganda,†which was re-launched on Saturday.
Kanyeihamba said Binaisa abrogated the Constitution.
Up to now, nobody had taken responsibility for the 1966 pigeon hole constitution which saw the monarchies in Uganda abolished and the country’s titular president, Kabaka Frederick Mutesa, exiled.
Binaisa, however, denied that his action was intended to abolish the monarchy.
Ends
For the first time since leaving power, former President Godfrey Binaisa has admitted responsibility for abrogating the 1962 constitution in 1966.
Prof. Binaisa, who was the then Attorney General, said he had to avert the brewing blood shed and a military take over by Idd Amin, the then feared Army Chief-of-Staff.
He said he wrote the 1966 pigeon hole constitution with Kamba Mugerwa and Koffi Cran, both Ghanaians.
“Faced with the 1966 events, I had to keep the citizens and foreigners from harm,†Binaisa said.
“I offered a solution. I told Dr. Obote that it was the only thing to do to save the country from military take over. I kicked out all the Ugandans from the office and let the Europeans handle it so as not to leak it. That constitution saved this country. I think I did a good job,†Binaisa added.
Binaisa was reacting to Justice George Kanyaihamba’s assertions in his book “Constitutional and Political History of Uganda,†which was re-launched on Saturday.
Kanyeihamba said Binaisa abrogated the Constitution.
Up to now, nobody had taken responsibility for the 1966 pigeon hole constitution which saw the monarchies in Uganda abolished and the country’s titular president, Kabaka Frederick Mutesa, exiled.
Binaisa, however, denied that his action was intended to abolish the monarchy.
Ends